Laptop Battery Not Charging? How to Fix “Plugged in, Not Charging” on Windows [2025 Guide]

Laptop Battery Not Charging? Here’s How to Fix It [2025 Guide]

Does your laptop suddenly show “Plugged in, not charging” or stay stuck at a certain percentage, even though the AC adapter is connected properly? You restart, wiggle the cable, check the outlet… but the battery still won’t charge.

This is a very common problem on modern laptops. The good news: in many cases, you can fix it yourself with a few checks in Windows, your BIOS, and your power adapter—no need to rush to a repair shop immediately.

In this 2025 guide, we’ll walk through the most likely causes and show you step-by-step fixes you can try on Windows laptops from brands like Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, Acer, and Microsoft Surface.

Common Causes of Battery Charging Issues

Many of these issues are not obvious at first glance. Let’s go through them in a safe order—from the easiest checks to the more advanced ones.

Step-by-Step Checks You Can Try

1. Check the AC Adapter, Cable, and Port

Before changing any settings, make sure the laptop is actually getting stable power.

• Try a different wall outlet (avoid power strips and extension cables when testing).
• Make sure all plugs are firmly connected (adapter to wall, adapter to laptop).
• Check the cable for cuts, bends, or burn marks.
• Feel the adapter: slightly warm is normal, but very hot may indicate a problem.
• Inspect the charging port (USB-C or barrel jack). Look for dust, lint, or wobbling.

If you have access to another compatible adapter (with the correct voltage and connector), test with that. If your laptop charges normally with a different adapter, the original one is likely failing and should be replaced.

USB-C tip: On laptops with USB-C, not every USB-C port supports charging. Try all ports marked with a battery or lightning symbol, and use a proper USB-C PD (Power Delivery) charger.

2. Reinstall the Battery Driver in Windows

Sometimes Windows simply mis-detects the battery state. Reinstalling the battery driver can refresh the connection between Windows and your hardware.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Batteries section.
3. Right-click Microsoft AC Adapter (if present) → Uninstall device.
4. Right-click Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery → Uninstall device.
5. Close Device Manager and restart your PC. Windows will reinstall the drivers automatically.

After the reboot, check whether the battery icon now shows charging correctly.

3. Review Windows Power & Battery Settings

Modern Windows laptops often include battery health features that intentionally stop charging at 60–80% to reduce wear. This is normal, but it can look like a charging problem if you don’t expect it.

• Open Settings → System → Power & battery (Windows 11) or Settings → System → Power & sleep (Windows 10).
• Check if Battery saver mode is enabled and turn it off temporarily.
• Look for any battery health, smart charging, or maximum charge limit options.

If your laptop is intentionally stopping at 80% due to a “battery health” setting, you can usually disable it or switch between “Balanced” and “Full capacity” modes—just remember that always charging to 100% may shorten long-term battery life.

4. Don’t Forget BIOS and Manufacturer Utilities

Many business and premium laptops include extra battery controls in the BIOS/UEFI or OEM tools. These settings can override Windows and limit charging—even if everything looks normal in the OS.

If your battery always stops at exactly the same percentage (for example, 80%) and never goes higher, this is often a sign that one of these features is enabled. Open your manufacturer’s utility and adjust the battery mode if you need a full charge—for example, before a long trip.

Tip: Only change BIOS/UEFI settings if you’re confident. Write down the original values so you can restore them if something doesn’t work as expected.

5. Try a Controlled Battery Calibration

If Windows thinks your battery is at 40% when it’s actually almost empty (or vice versa), the percentage reading can be out of sync with reality. A careful calibration can help—though you should not do this too often with modern lithium-ion batteries.

1. Charge the laptop to 100% and leave it plugged in for another 1–2 hours.
2. Unplug the AC adapter and use the laptop normally to drain the battery until it auto-sleeps or shuts down.
3. Let it rest for 30–60 minutes, then charge it back to 100% in one go without interruption.

After this cycle, Windows often reports the battery level more accurately. However, avoid fully draining the battery on a regular basis—this is just for occasional calibration, not everyday use.

Hidden Trick: Power Drain Reset (EC Reset)

Inside your laptop, an embedded controller (EC) manages power and charging. If it gets confused, you may see symptoms like:

• Battery stuck at 0% or 100% and not changing
• Charging LED does not light up
• Laptop only turns on with the adapter but shows “not charging”

A power drain reset (also called EC reset) can sometimes clear these glitches.

1. Shut down the laptop completely.
2. Unplug the AC adapter. If your model has a removable battery, remove it as well.
3. Press and hold the power button for about 15–30 seconds.
4. Reconnect the battery (if removable) and plug in the AC adapter.
5. Turn the laptop back on and check the charging status.

Some laptops have a small reset pinhole on the bottom or a specific keyboard shortcut for EC reset—refer to your manufacturer’s documentation for model-specific instructions.

This method won’t revive a physically dead battery, but it’s a safe last step to try before contacting support.

Types of Laptop Battery & Power Options

If your current battery is worn out, you have several options depending on how and where you use your laptop.

Always double-check your laptop’s exact model number and supported voltage before buying any internal or external battery solution.

Looking for Replacement Batteries?

If your battery is clearly at the end of its life, replacement is often cheaper than buying a new laptop—especially if the device is otherwise in good condition.

Here are Amazon search links where you can look up compatible laptop batteries by brand and model:

• ▶ Laptop Battery Listings on Amazon.co.jp

This site uses affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!

When Should You Contact Microsoft or the Manufacturer?

Not every charging issue can (or should) be fixed at home. Contact support in these situations:

For HP, Dell, Lenovo, ASUS, Acer, and other brands, your primary contact should be the laptop manufacturer’s support line. For Surface devices, Microsoft Support is the right place to start.

Final Tips

A “battery not charging” message doesn’t always mean your laptop is dying. In many cases, it’s a combination of power settings, battery health features, or a confused driver.

Start with the simple checks—adapter, cable, and port—then move on to Windows power settings, manufacturer utilities, and an EC reset if needed. If your battery truly is at the end of its life, consider a replacement or external power options instead of rushing into a completely new laptop.

With a little troubleshooting, you can often get your laptop charging again and extend its useful life by several more years.

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タグ: laptop power problems, laptop troubleshooting, power settings, battery not charging, Windows laptop battery issue, battery driver fix, EC reset, laptop won’t charge, Windows 11 battery issue, BIOS battery limit